Azimut Yachts, a leading Italian yacht-manufacturer, has revealed that Middle East is a major market for its latest generation yachts with the most innovative technology.

At the Dubai International Boat Show 2018, which concluded yesterday (March 3), Azimut Yachts launched its new La Dolce Vita 3.0 brand strategy in the UAE market.

Drawing on one of the masterpieces of Italian neorealist film, La Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini, Azimut Yachts presented a contemporary take on a lifestyle at the show.

Every creation by Azimut Yachts is a concentration of innovation, care over comfort and unmistakably Italian style, the distinctive features that have made yachts built at the shipyard famous the world over, it said.

For years now, Dubai, and the Middle East in general, has been an important market for Azimut Yachts: owners in the area are particularly fond of the Grande Collection, with 30 per cent of the yachts in this line sold in the Middle East, where the brand’s turnover has tripled in the last five years. One demonstration of this is that the first hulls built of the new products announced for 2018, Grande 27 Metri and Grande 35 Metri, have been delivered to Middle Eastern customers.

The first unit of the Grande 32 Metri, model year 2019, which will be presented at the Cannes Boat Festival September 2018 will be delivered to the same area.

Azimut’s commercial success is also confirmed by the short-term delivery plan, according to which one yacht a month is scheduled to arrive in the Middle East in the second half of the year, it said.

“We are delighted to participate to Dubai International Boat Show, because we consider UAE a region with an extraordinary potential for growth," said Azimut Yachts CEO, Marco Valle. "I had the chance to be a panellist in the International Superyacht Summit, organised in Dubai during the Boat Show, and I am definitively convinced that the UAE has the perfect conditions to become a new superyacht hub. Here people understand and appreciate luxury goods which entail innovation, craftsmanship and attention to details, almost tailor made, exactly as our yachts are.”

There are two main reasons for this success. It is driven by profitable collaboration with the Gulf area dealer Seas & Deserts, which offers customers an extensive and competent network of sales offices and technical assistance centres. On the other, it is the result of Azimut Yachts’ ability to offer boats with that unmistakable Made in Italy allure, but adapted to satisfy the special needs of local customers in terms of their decor and in part of their layout, drawing on design and construction flexibility that is hard to find elsewhere on the market, he said.

Five models at the show

The Grande 27 Metri, winner of the “Most Achieved Trophy” in the 80 to 125-foot category at the World Yacht Trophies and designed by Stefano Righini, is a widebody superyacht with a unique concept that perfectly harmonises the exterior lines with peerless interior volumes. The decor is the work of Achille Salvagni and stands out for its contrasting colours and materials, as well as for the unique pieces of furniture made to measure by expert craftsmen. The two 1,900 hp MAN V12 engines drive the yacht to a top speed of 27 knots and a cruising speed of 24 knots.

Azimut Verve 40, the second premiere in Dubai, is the first all-Italian Weekender, which combines all the typical features of the traditional American walkaround and day cruiser, but adds to them the peerless elegance and sophistication of Italian style. Its main features include the steering console with modern styling inspired by automotive design and the spacious underdeck area, offering relaxing and comfortable accommodation. The interior decor is extremely sophisticated. Three 350 hp Mercury Verado engines drive the yacht to a top speed of 44 knots and a cruising speed of 37 knots.

The third and final premiere is the Azimut 60, an 18-metre yacht designed once again by Stefano Righini, whose exteriors are characterised by the the vertical bow and big pilothouse windows, which are full-height on the starboard side, offering a spectacular view of the sea thanks to the cutaway gunwales next to the lounge area. The interior and exterior decor, dominated by flowing lines, is the work of Achille Salvagni, who has chosen extremely rich materials and lavished consummate care on the details and finishings. The two 800 mHP ip MAN, or alternatively two 900 mHP Volvo D13 engines, drive the yacht to a top speed of 31 knots.

The other boats on show were Azimut Magellano 76 and Azimut 77S.

Azimut Yachts is part of Azimut|Benetti Group, which is placed first in the Global Order Book 2018, ranking one of the world’s leading builders of luxury yachts over 24 metres for the 18th year running.

The brand is well known all over the world for its pioneering approach, as proven by several product innovation milestone and the ability to create new product segments, not to mention the attitude to develop original technology innovation such as the extensive use of carbon fibre.

The company's 2018 pipeline entails four new launches: Atlantis 51 and Flybridge 55, recently presented at the Dusseldorf Boat Show, while Azimut Grande 32 Metri and Azimut S6 will debut at Cannes next September.